Gov. Brownback signs ‘Joey’s Law,’ drug overdose bills

The Weber family, including his mother, Nancy, were at the Capitol for
signing by Brownback of legislation designed to help law enforcement
better handle encounters with people on the autism spectrum
or who have cognitive disabilities like Joey. (Facebook)

John Weber fondly recalled for family, friends and Gov. Sam Brownback on Friday the unusual capacity of his son to read manuals for farm combines and later recall precisely what parts might be required to repair one of the complex pieces of machinery.

Weber said his late son, Joey, did well in school and avoided conflict. That made Joey’s shooting death during a struggle with a Hays police officer all the more tragic.

“Very smart,” Weber said. “In school, I think there were only two periods where he was not on one of the honor rolls. Just a very good person. Didn’t really have anything bad to say about anyone.”

The Weber family, including his mother, Nancy, were at the Capitol for signing by Brownback of legislation designed to help law enforcement better handle encounters with people on the autism spectrum or who have cognitive disabilities, like Joey.

Under Senate Bill 74, or Joey’s Law, individuals will be able to voluntarily have distinctive notations on a driver’s license or nondriver identification card, display placards on the visor or dashboard of a vehicle, or place stickers on vehicle license plates to alert law enforcement officers a person might need special assistance during a traffic stop or other encounter.

“This is very sensible, helpful legislation,” Brownback said. “We can, hopefully, prevent tragedies in the future … like what happened to Joey.”

In Joey Weber’s case, he became flustered in August 2016 when a police officer in Hays pulled him over for an expired license plate. The officer didn’t know Weber had undergone treatment for autism, anxiety disorder and other conditions. The 36-year-old man, uneasy around the flashing lights and raised voices of law enforcement, fled in the car in an attempt to go home.

During a subsequent physical encounter, the Ellis County attorney said, Weber allegedly tried to grab for an officer’s firearm. The officer fatally shot Weber in the chest.

Existing Kansas law doesn’t make information about a person’s need for special assistance with cognition available to law enforcement agencies.

“Hopefully, we make sure this never, ever happens again. It’s a very sad situation. The law will ensure that law enforcement has another tool in their box,” said Sen. Richard Billinger, a Goodland Republican who helped carry the bill through the Senate.

Rep. Gail Finney, D-Wichita, said working on the bill in the House was an honor. She said organizations that advocate on behalf of people with disabilities played a role in gaining passage of the bill.

“This was a collaborative effort and a bipartisan effort,” she said.

Meanwhile, Brownback also signed House Bill 2217 to authorize issuance to emergency medical responders, law enforcement personnel, or regular or volunteer firefighters a drug approved by the FDA to counteract an opioid overdose.

The legislation is intended to provide rapid treatment for someone suffering an overdose of heroin or a prescription drug before arrival at a hospital.